Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn

Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really like these books. I like the idea that there is someone who loves this country so much that he is willing to be the CIA's secret weapon against the rest of the world. I know things aren't black and white in the world, that so much is gray, but Mitch Rapp is a black and white bad-ass.

My only quibble is that some of the character names are too similar. I am not a very close reader and at times I had trouble keeping track of who was the terrorist's dyed in the wool leader and who was trying to be the voice of reason.

I can't wait for the next book....


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What I Read...Tonight!

Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Mélanie Watt


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My son brought this Red Clover nominee home from the library today. Apparently there is a series of books starring Scaredy Squirrel. This one would be a great story to share with a youngster who is slightly shy or an over-worrier.Delightfully illustrated and filled with sly humor.

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What I Just Finished Reading

Right as Rain by George P. Pelecanos


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is probably my favorite by Pelecanos to date.

If you have read any Pelecanos novel, you are familiar with the area he writes about and the type of world his characters inhabit. His plots are intricate without being overwhelming, the dialogue is sharp and realistic, his characters are human and relatable and the resolutions are realistic, satisfying in some respects and frustrating in others.

I also appreciate how the books can tie together very subtly. I read a lot of "series" by authors I like. I find myself frustrated by picking up a novel that is a DIRECT sequel to another book (that I might not have read) or where the author fills in so much background information (practically cutting and pasting for the benefit of a new reader)you can zone out for a page or two. Pelecanos does such a nice job of being able to hook new readers while tossing long time fans a bone or two. (For this book, there are so many subtle tie-ins, but the one in the last chapter brought tears to my eyes.)

If you have read Pelecanos but haven't read how Quinn and Strange ended up as partners, then this book is for you. If you haven't read anything by Pelecanos yet (WHAT!?!?), then this book is an excellent one to start with.

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What I'm Reading

Split Second by David Baldacci


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Do you remember when you first saw Star Wars? If you are a certain gender and a certain age, it was THE defining movie of your childhood. You were either Luke or Han when you played. You craved everything Star Wars.

Then The Empire Strikes Back came out and it added so many layers. You were blown away. “No....I am your father” rocked your little mind. Yoda letting the audience know “No. There is another” led to rampant speculation for a few years about where the story was going to go next.

And then we got Return of the Jedi which pretty much showed us that George Lucas was just making this stuff up as he went along. Luke and Leia are brother and sister and it was always Lucas' intention? Watch the kiss in Empire again and tell me if you believe that.

And then he made the “real” first three and things get out of control. Chewbacca and Yoda are “old friends”? Kenobi and Anakin are enemies for about 30 seconds before Obi Wan runs and hides for twenty years but watch the first one and Kenobi is calling Vader “Darth”, as if it was his name and they knew each other for awhile.

Basically, Lucas was winging it. Granted, it is probably one of the most successful wing its in wing it history but still....

A long winded way to get into this review, but “Split Second” was the first novel where Michelle Maxwell and Sean King meet each other, but it is the fourth of their adventures I have read. Some of their back story has been hinted at in the other novels I read but all of those novels were accessible so I didn't really worry about it.

Now having read this story, I am even more appreciative of the “world” that David Baldacci has created. The narrative thread is strong and while some of the situations are obviously a little far fetched (kidnapped Presidential candidates, underground bunkers, and villains renovating derelict buildings while no one notices) the story is engaging and keeps you guessing.

I seem to be in a rut as to the type of story I am reading these days but I am really okay with that.

Next three: “The Race” by Patterson, “Hell to Pay” by Pelecanos and something by Michael Connely.

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"What I'm Reading"

The Way Home by George P. Pelecanos


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am a lucky man. I know that. I live a quiet life, relatively normal and straight.

But I know there is another world out there, even in the quiet and calm of The Green Mountain state. People who live lives with no purpose or with malice in their hearts.

"The Way Home" shows a little bit of that world in and around Washington, DC. A teenage boy's life goes off the tracks and takes the lives of his family with him. Even as he tries to straighten things out, a decade later as a young man, his old reality crashes in on him.

A few years ago, Stephen King, in his column in Entertainment Weekly, recommended another of Pelecanos novels which I read and enjoyed. That one was a bit of a crime/mystery/thriller if I remember properly.

I saw this at the library and picked it up. Not the sort of book I usually read...more a slice of life story rather than the "incredulity straining fiction" I really enjoy but worth the time to read. I am going to read some of Pelecanos' other books sooner rather than later.

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"What I'm Reading"

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Now this is the Neil Gaiman I like. It was spooky, funny, touching, and mysterious. My only complaint might be that some of the mystery was played too close to the vest.

If you like British humor, a touch of the macabre and don't take the idea of ghosts and the afterlife too seriously, you will probably enjoy this.

I found two copies in my classroom library. I am not sure if I would recommend this much below 6th grade, unless you have a fairly sophisticated kid on your hands.

Whereas"Coraline" started strong and faltered, leaving a less and less positive spot as the memroy dims, this book is one I will revisit someday. I hope the author does too.

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What I Read....When It First Came Out....

This comes directly from Brad Meltzer's site....

"Here's the sneak peek of the new cover for the paperback (coming out at the end of the month on May 26th). Trust me, I was surprised as you were at the image. I do like it. Skeevy. And I guess they wanted to ride the power of the dog, and so we ride..."

What I Was Reading....Until Last Night

The Catch: A Joe Gunther Novel by Archer Mayor

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
After the last few Gunther novels, my expectations were low. (While on my latest reading jag, I read one of the books without even realizing I had already read it before!)



This one was a bit better. Once again, most of the action takes place outside of Vermont, but this time it did not seem as forced as the last few novels. Most of the references to Joe's age have been muted (I think, if the timeline for his life established way back in Open Season was still being followed, Gunther would be over 70 years old) and the background stuff for new readers did not seem so ham-fisted.



While with a lot of Mayor's books, the ending seems slightly rushed and dependent on far too many coincidences, overall it was worth reading, especially if you are a fan of the genre, had given up on Mayor or have a couple of days to kill.


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What I Was Reading...Until Last Night

The Hard Way by Lee Child

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
As good as the Reacher novels get. This one had some good twists and turns. I thought the whole mystery was good and I even figured out a few things before they were revealed!



On a side note, unlike James Patterson's recent (preachy) take on the horrors of modern Africa, I thought Child did a much better job of conveying what is going on over there. It was touched upon briefly by a character who was a red herring but made sense to the overall story (again, unlike Patterson's recent "Cross" novel).



Pure escapist adventure. I had a recent "debate" on Twitter as to how many books in a series you should read in a row. I find myself wanting to grab the next immediately.


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What I'm Reading....earlier this week

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was the first book I read while out sick from school recently. The first in the series was a DCF nominated book. If you liked that one, you will like this one. No new ground is broken here. Inventive blend of pictures and pre-teen humor. A good series to try to hook a "non-reader".


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**So Marc has convinced me to trade one on-line addiction (i.e. "Tribal Wars") for another (i.e. "Good Reads"). Something tells me this one MIGHT be a little more worthwhile. This was my first posting. Since I hadn't posted anything here in a while, I thought I would cheat with this cross post.

What I Am Reading...Now!

Thanks for the suggestion Lee!

(Why not click the link and follow him on Twitter? or better yet click HERE and buy his condo!)

PS Nan wondered if you like this authour because his name reminds you of what you were called when you live in New Awlins?

What I'm Reading....Now.

I have been working my way through this year's DCF Nominated books. Last year, my class was not as interested, nor was Haley, so I only read the winner.

I have read 15 all together and abandoned one (sorry Natalie Babbitt!) but this one is currently vying to be my favorite.

Like lots of these books, the characters are a little too perfect, even in their imperfections. The kids are always a little too self-aware and make the courageous choices you hope your child will make. The adults a little too understanding or the coincidences in their lives are a little too far fetched.

That being said, and even with its heavy New York Yankee undercurrent (it's the late 60's so it's a Yankee team steeped in history and universally loved), this one is pretty good.

"The Seems: A Glitch In Sleep" was really good, but in a different sort of way. And it has spawned a sequel that was just as enjoyable. But right now, Wednesday Wars has my vote.

What I'm Reading....NOW!

I remember picking up the very first Alex Cross novel "Along Came A Spider" back when it was first published. I've always liked the books, quick reads, a little pretentious, but usually a good time.

Now, I usually don't say too much on this blog, but I kind of want to right here. I read for pleasure. I like to escape reality and throw myself into the "world" of the novel. I can suspend disbelief and will welcome the giant mutant alligators or Herculean efforts of a single man to save the world. I don't usually read "to learn" (with the exceptions of things like the weekly newsmagazine, entertainment stuff or when Marc suggests a book).

I am about 3/4ths of the way through this particular Cross novel and there is TOO much reality. It's obvious the author wants to make some sort of statement or stumbled across some article on the horrors of modern day Africa and wants to do something. If that is true, he should write a book about that.

I do not pick up an Alex Cross novel to learn about the refugee camps in Darfur or the horrors of genocides against people that "[t]he UN can't help. No one can."

I pick up an Alex Cross novel to read about a Washington DC homicide detective solve an impossible crime.

I want reality to leave me alone for a few hundred pages and several hours spread out over a few days.

What I'm Reading....Now!

I got this from one of my aunts around the time Nana died. I forgot I had it. I also forgot how much I like this guy's stuff.